Today, the sixth day of March marks the first birth anniversary of Latin American author Gabriel Garcia Marquez after his death in 2014. He was a talented novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist. And what better way to celebrate the man than remember his contribution to the world of words – works that made Marquez’s name almost synonymous with magical realism. Be it the examination of obsession with female virginity in Chronicles of a Death Foretold or the love story of Love in the Time of Cholera inspired by his parent’s romance, Marquez, or Gabo as he was fondly called, always weaved the tale through a magical narrative, which continues to draw in numerous readers over the decades.

Born in 1927, Marquez stayed with his grandparents through his early years. His grandmother’s rich storytelling, infused with folklore and his grandfather’s experience of battle and conflict strongly influenced Marquez’s thinking and writing style.

Marquez is one of the most beloved authors of modern times. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 1982. His writing “profession” started with short stories and journalism, which according to him was his “true profession”. From there he went on to write some of the most memorable books of our times; publishing over 40 books, including a book of his memoirs Living to Tell the Tale (Vintage, 2002).

Keeping in mind the widespread readership and popularity of Marquez works, there’s no brief list of his most famous works. We’ve mentioned just two of his works below to encourage you to pick at least any one of his books and enter a magic world woven by Gabo. For those (most) of you familiar with his writings, come reminisce with us and share your personal favourite in the comments!

One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967): This tragicomedy tale of the history of the Buendía family and the town of Macondo is considered Marquez’s masterpiece. Originally written in Spanish, it has been translated into over 35 languages and several million copies have been sold.

Living to Tell the Tale (2002): Describing a little over first two decades of Marquez’s life, this memoir is first part of the trilogy that was planned to share the author’s life with us readers in his own unique style, filled with author’s usual deadpan humour. Marquez has turned his simplest, everyday memories into fascinating tales that make this a wonderful read.